Stakeholder roundtables in African partner universities

AHEAD partner universities from Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda organized Stakeholder Roundtables in order to present the Virtual Knowledge Gateway (the online collaboration platform) and to discuss plans for creation of Innovation Hubs with external stakeholders who are among the main target groups. The agenda of the roundtable included:

• Presentation of the project and its objectives
• Discussion on the current research agenda in the university and its link to societal challenges and the needs of the local and national economy
• Presentation of the potential benefits of inclusive and grassroots innovation
• Promotion of the Virtual Knowledge Gateways
• Presentation of the plans for creation and/or operation of the Innovation Hubs and the ways in which they will seek to strengthen the cooperation between the university and the external stakeholders

Partner universities managed to involve key external stakeholders, including representatives of public organizations, private companies, civil society organizations, cultural institutions, education providers and research organizations among others. In total, PC HEIs gathered 363 participants in the roundtable discussions. All of them were invited to cooperate within the activities of the Innovation Hubs and on the Virtual Knowledge Gateway.

The Stakeholder roundtables allowed PC HEIs to map the existing interests, positions and visions among external stakeholders and identify stakeholders that can be instrumental in advancing future institutional plans for research and innovation activities, with special attention to local entrepreneurs and grassroots innovators.